When you add a ramp or other barrier-free access point to your house or company, you improve not just its practicality but also its aesthetic appeal.
In this article, you’ll find out how to avoid the many elementary but high-priced errors committed by previous generations.
The entryway should be built to Universal Design standards so that it is usable by everybody. This article will focus on the fundamentals, which are as follows:
Make changes to the walkway so that it flows nicely with the house.
Each ramp is designed in reverse, beginning at the point where the user will enter it (usually the front or garage door). Vehicles are typically retrieved from driveways, garages, and parking lots. Your home’s architecture will match the ramp’s lowest and tallest points.
Think about whether the front of the house or the street will be facing the finished product. Make the ramp match the building’s structure for design and aesthetic points. The practicality of a ramp increases when it does not stand out from the rest of the home. The house with short walls and lots of sharp edges should be avoided.
A ramp should have a 5-foot platform at the top, and more curves make it longer, so make it as straight as possible while still fitting the house. For aesthetic purposes, it’s also important that the ramp’s materials and layout match those of the house’s steps.
Consider whether or not a particular type of ramp is required.
How long will this be needed, or will it be needed permanently? Materials used to build wheelchair ramps fall into one of three basic groups. Brick and concrete, metal and wood, all work. There are advantages to using each of them. Still, it’s important to figure out how quickly you need anything.
Many wooden ramps were used for a year before their owners relocated and the ramp didn’t match their new home. Unlike more conventional platform steps building materials like brick and wood, aluminum doesn’t require the same level of maintenance, and it’s lightweight and easy to move or repurpose. The same is true for wood; it requires more maintenance than concrete.
Give careful consideration to the types of users and their needs.
Wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, and rolling baggage all provide mobility assistance, but telling them apart can be challenging. They all have wheels, yet the user experience could not be more dissimilar. Due to their lack of upper body strength, walker users cannot manage ADA-recommended ramps with 1 inch of rise per foot.
According to ADA guidelines, “the least possible slope shall be used for any ramp.” Most people have an ingrained desire to be as average as possible. If you want to make it easier for users to climb, a ramp may be necessary.
As momentum and gravity increase on the ramp, more accidents are likely. The velocity of a fall also increases the severity of an injury. The best ramps are created by anticipating the needs of the users and then exceeding those needs.
Consider where to put your ramp and what surface to use
The most common mistake is choosing a pretty surface over a non slippery one that prevents falls. Trex or composite wood is the most attractive and low-maintenance option for bowling down the ramp, but it’s dangerous.
Even while concrete is sturdy underfoot, it may become extremely slippery when covered in ice and snow. Aluminum ramps’ extruded edges every quarter inch and black friction surfaces that look like sandpaper make them ideal for this. Such a surface would perform much better in the presence of rain.
Aluminum ramps are now available in a variety of colors to match the rest of the house and satisfy discerning homeowners.
Focus in every aspects
The ramp’s handrail will be the most familiar because you’ll touch and glide down it. You need a stable, smooth area to rest your hand or the feet of your mobility device.
Handrails must be smooth and free of protrusions that could trap fingers to comply with the ADA. sanded 2x6s (redwood is preferred)
